Conveyor for containers

ABSTRACT

A conveyor ( 1 ) for containers ( 2 ) includes a first and second endless metallic belt ( 5   a,    5   b ), which are arranged side by side and parallel, and which are mounted on respective driving pulleys having parallel axes. The metallic belts are operated to move with the same velocity in a predetermined forward movement direction (W). Operating means adjust the mutual angular positioning of the driving pulleys. A plurality of retaining elements, first ( 6   a ) and second ( 6   b ), are removably fastened to the respective metallic belts ( 5   a,    5   b ) to define corresponding seats ( 7 ) for receiving and. housing the containers ( 2 ), The longitudinal dimension of each of the seats ( 7 ) can be changed by acting on the operating means. With a maximum width ( 200 ) of the longitudinal dimension of each seat ( 7 ), the first and second retaining elements ( 6   a,    6   b ) defining the seat ( 7 ) are situated one beside the other and partially overlapped.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field concerningautomatic packaging of powder or liquid articles into suitablecontainers, e.g. bottles, ampoules or phials.

[0002] In this particular case the present invention relates to aconveyor including a pair of metallic belts, arranged side by side, forconveying containers having various size through a sequence of workingstations including e.g. containers filling stations, weighing stations,stations for closing the containers, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Currently, the use of smooth metallic belts, is particularlyadvisable in all cases, in which the conveyors operate in substantiallyaseptic environments, where high hygiene conditions must be maintained,e.g. for packaging articles in a sterile environment or in isolatedsystem supplied with sterile air.

[0004] This need is particularly felt in pharmaceutical products field,where the possibility to work in a sterile environment allows to packageproducts substantially free from impurities and bacterial contamination.

[0005] Currently, different types of conveying lines are used for movingthe containers, using stationary sliding surfaces, usually made ofTeflon, on which the containers are moved by suitable driving means,which generally include one or more belts of synthetic or metallicmaterial.

[0006] In cases of especially large conveying paths, endless belts areused, which are driven by a pair of transmission pulleys, driving anddriven, respectively.

[0007] The conveying lines having single pulling means include one beltor one chain, to which means for gripping or pushing the bottles arefastened.

[0008] The gripping means, usually removably fastened to the belt or tothe chain, fulfill their task only on a limited range of sizes of thebottles supported on the conveying line.

[0009] Another type of conveying line includes pairs of metallicconveying belts, arranged side by side, moved synchronously. Each of thebelts is equipped with a plurality of arms extending substantiallyorthogonal with respect to the forward movement direction, and extendingabove the adjacent belt.

[0010] Opposite arms, fastened to different metallic belts, definereceiving seats for containers moved by the conveying line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The object of the present invention is to propose a conveyor forcontainers of different sizes, which assures particularly quick andreliable size change over operations, assuring at the same time bestproduction rate of the conveying line connected thereto.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to propose a conveyor,which maximizes the stability of containers during their movement andassures high standards of functionality and rapidity of the containerssize change over operations.

[0013] A further object of the present invention is to propose aconveyor, which is simple to obtain and reduces considerably time neededfor installation and maintenance operations, facilitating sterilizationprocedures.

[0014] The above-mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with thecontents of the claims, by a conveyor for containers including:

[0015] a first metallic endless belt and a second metallic endless beltarranged side by side and mounted on respective driving pulleys havingparallel axes, the first and second metallic belts being operated tomove with the same velocity in a selected forward movement direction;

[0016] a plurality of first retaining elements and a plurality of secondretaining elements, removably fastened to the respective metallic beltsto define corresponding seats for receiving and housing said containers;

[0017] said conveyor being characterized in that it includes operatingmeans for changing the longitudinal dimension of each of said seats byadjusting the mutual angular positioning of said driving pulleys, withthe first and second retaining elements defining the seat being situatedone beside the other and partially overlapped when the longitudinaldimension of each seat reaches the maximum width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The characteristic features of the present invention will bepointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not onlyembodiment, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0019]FIGS. 1A, 1B are two schematic top views of the proposed grippingsystem in two particularly significant operation configurations, ofmaximum and minimum size of the containers;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a schematic section view taken along II-II of FIG. 1B;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a schematic section view taken along III-III of FIG. 1B:

[0022]FIG. 4 is a schematic section view taken along IV-IV of FIG. 1A.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] With reference to the above figures, general reference 1indicates a conveyor including a pair of metallic belts, namely a firstbelt 5 a and a second belt 5 b, aimed at receiving containers 2, e.g.bottles, ampoules or phials, resting thereon.

[0024] The metallic belts, first 5 a and second 5 b, are arranged sideby side and are of endless type, winding on respective pulleys, drivingand driven, having parallel axes (not shown in enclosed Figures).

[0025] The metallic belts are operated with the same speed to move inthe same horizontal direction W.

[0026] The conveyor 1 includes a plurality of retaining elements, first6 a and second 6 b, removably connected to respective first metallicbelt 5 a and second metallic belt 5 b and defining corresponding seats 7for receiving and housing containers 2.

[0027] Suitable operating means, not shown since of known type, areprovided for adjustment of the mutual angular positioning of the drivingpulleys of the metallic belts 5 a, 5 b, so as to allow to change thedimension of the seats 7, longitudinally with reference to the directionW, and to allow the conveyor 1 to convey the containers 2 of differentdimensions.

[0028] This adjustment is preferably performed with the metallic belts 5a, 5 b, motionless, i.e. in stationary configurations.

[0029] The first retaining elements 6 a include preferably first arms 60a, e.g. substantially “C”-like extending in a vertical plane orthogonalto the forward movement direction W, equipped with protrusions 64 aextending from respective lower wings 61 a and surmounting the oppositesecond metallic belt 5 b.

[0030] The first arms 60 a are removably fastened to the first metallicbelt 5 a, by relative first fastening means 9 a with interposition of afirst plate 8 a, situated under the first belt 5 a.

[0031] The first fastening means 9 a are preferably threaded screws,engaging with the relative lower wings 61 a (FIG. 2).

[0032] Suitable stabilizing means 12 a, e.g. including a firstanti-rotation pin and passing simultaneously through the first metallicbelt 5 a and the corresponding first arms 60 a, stabilize theconfiguration of the latter with respect to the first metallic belt 5 a,substantially preventing the first arms 60 a from rotating relative tothe belt.

[0033] The first anti-rotation pin 12 a advantageously also crosses thecorresponding first plate 8 a.

[0034] The second retaining elements 6 b include preferably second arms60 b, e.g. substantially “C”-like extending in a vertical planeorthogonal to the forward movement direction W and extend to surmountthe first metallic belt 5 a (FIG. 3).

[0035] Each of the second arms 60 b has a fastening base 63 b, whichforms a corresponding seat 62 b including a relative abutment 61 b forthe protrusion 64 a of the adjacent first arm 60 a.

[0036] The second arms 60 b are removably fastened to the secondmetallic belt 5 b, by relative second fastening means 9 b, with theinterposition of a second plate 8 b, situated under the second metallicbelt 5 b.

[0037] The second fastening means 9 b are preferably threaded screws,engaging with the relative fastening bases 63 b.

[0038] Analogously to the first arms 60 a, suitable second stabilizingmeans 12 b, e.g. including a second anti-rotation pin, passsimultaneously through the second metallic belt 5 b and thecorresponding second arms 60 b to stabilize the relative configurationof the latter with respect to the second metallic belt 5 a,substantially preventing the second arms 60 a from rotating relative tothe belt.

[0039] The second anti-rotation pin 12 a crosses advantageously also thecorresponding second plate 8 b.

[0040] According to what is shown in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 1A, whencontainers 2 having diametrical dimensions considered maximum for thedesired use are processed, the longitudinal dimension of the seats 7transverse to the direction W takes the maximum width, indicated with200, so as to form a configuration Z for the corresponding retainingelements 6 a and 6 b, in which the latter are partially overlapped.

[0041] Before the metallic belts, first 5 a and second 5 b, areoperated, i.e. when they are in their motionless condition, the mutualangular position of their driving pulleys is suitably adjusted by actingon the operating means so as to adapt the dimensions of the seats 7 tothe size of the containers 2 to be moved.

[0042] If containers 2 of different size are to be moved, it isnecessary to stop the metallic belts, first 5 a and second 5 b, then actagain on the operating means, so as to suitably change the dimensionalfeatures of the seats 7.

[0043] Consequently, the proposed conveyor for containers of varioussizes, of the type including metallic belts, arranged side by side,assures substantially simple and rapid size change over operations,assuring at the same time high production rate of the conveying lineassociated thereto.

[0044] The particular shape of the retaining elements, defining thereceiving seats of the containers, allows configurations of beststability of the containers during their movement, assuring highfunctionality and rapidity characteristics during the size change overoperations.

[0045] The retaining elements, e.g. “C”-like, can be advantageouslygeometrically similar, in order to obtain the above stability of thecontainers, relative to the metallic belts, during their movement step.

[0046] The removable fastening of the retaining elements to therespective metallic belts, obtained substantially by threaded screws, isparticularly simple and functional and allows to obtain high reliabilityand productivity characteristics in any operation conditions of theconveyor, thus reducing considerably the time needed for installationand maintenance operations.

[0047] Moreover, this assures rapid and easy sterilization of themetallic belts and the respective retaining elements, which allowsreducing considerably down time of the proposed conveyor.

1. A conveyor (1) for containers (2) including: a first metallic endlessbelt (5 a) and a second metallic endless belt (5 b) arranged side byside and mounted on respective driving pulleys having parallel axes, thefirst and second metallic belts being operated to move with the samevelocity in a selected forward movement direction (W); a plurality offirst retaining elements (6 a) and a plurality of second retainingelements (6 b), removably fastened to the respective metallic belts (5a, 5 b) to define corresponding seats (7) for receiving and housing saidcontainers (2) with the first and second retaining elements (6 a, 6 b)of each seat being situated one beside the other; operating means forchanging the longitudinal dimension of each of said seats (7) byadjusting the mutual angular positioning of said driving pulleys; saidconveyor being characterized in that the second retaining elements (6 b)include arms (60 b) having fastening bases (63 b) forming correspondingseats (62 b) such that the first and second retaining elements (6 a, 6b) are partially overlapped when the longitudinal dimension of each seat(7) reaches the maximum width (200).
 2. A conveyor, according to claim1, characterized in that said first retaining elements (6 a), fastenedremovably to said first metallic belt (5 a), include further arms (60 a)equipped with protrusions (64 a), extending to surmount said secondmetallic belt (5 b).
 3. A conveyor, according to claim 2, characterizedin that said seats (62 b) feature abutments (61 b) for said protrusions(64 a) when said longitudinal dimension of each of said seats (7) isbrought to a maximum width (200).
 4. A conveyor, according to claim 2,characterized in that said first arms (60 a) are substantially “C”-likeand extend in a vertical plane orthogonal to said forward movementdirection (w), and include said protrusions (64 a) extending fromrespective lower wings (61 a).
 5. A conveyor, according to claim 3,characterized in that said second arms (60 b) are substantially “C”-likeand extend in a vertical plane orthogonal to said forward movementdirection (W), and extend, so as to surmount said first metallic belt (5a).
 6. A conveyor, according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that itincludes first stabilizing means (12 a), fastened to at least said firstmetallic belt (5 a) and said first arms (60 a), to stabilize therelative configuration of the latter with respect to the first metallicbelt (5 a).
 7. A conveyor, according to claim 3 or 5, characterized inthat it includes second stabilizing means (12 b), fastened to at leastsaid second metallic belt (5 b) and said second arms (60 b), tostabilize the relative configuration of the latter with respect to thesecond metallic belt (5 b).
 8. A conveyor, according to claim 6,characterized in that said first stabilizing means (12 a) include atleast one anti-rotation pin passing through said first metallic belt (5a) and said first arms (60 a).
 9. A conveyor, according to claim 7,characterized in that said second stabilizing means (12 b) include atleast one anti-rotation pin passing through said second metallic belt (5b) and said second arms (60 b).